MANILA, Philippines — After just two meetings, the House legislative franchises panel approved on Tuesday the proposed transfer of the controlling interest of Mindanao Islamic Telephone (Mislatel) Company, Inc. to its three other partners in the Mislatel Consortium.
This is despite the opposition of some lawmakers who pointed out the pending legal case of Mislatel Co. with another player Digiphil.
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Mislatel Co. and Uy’s Udenna Corporation (Udenna) and Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. (Chelsea) have teamed up with the China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom) to form the Mislatel Group which was declared as the third major player in the telecommunications (telco) market in the country by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) last November 7.
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The panel voted to approve Quirino Rep. Dakila Cua’s House Concurrent Resolution (HCR) No. 23 which seeks to increase the shareholdings of Udenna, Chelsea and China Telecom in Mislatel so the three entities could own majority and controlling interest in Mislatel.
Railroaded?
Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz Alvarez, the panel chair, dismissed allegations that the approval was railroaded.
“Walang order, lahat naman to dinaan sa tamang process wala namang nirailroad wala namang minadali,” Alvarez told reporters in an interview.
He also said the legal feud between Mislatel and Digiphil was “not a concern” of the committee.
Alvarez said the measure would be brought to the plenary for its consideration when the chamber returns from their Christmas break.
“After the break na kasi isa-submit pa so wala naman time na bukas last day na eh, January na,” he said. /muf